System and method for using programable autonomous network objects to store and deliver content to globally distributed groups of transient users

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method which employs a globally distributed computer network populated by a plurality of programmable autonomous network objects (“PANOs”) to facilitate the storage and delivery of digital information, and services based thereon, to a plurality of globally distributed groups of transient users. In a broader embodiment, the invention provides software that behaves substantially in the manner of a superobject, that causes hardware to behave in a substantially autonomous manner.

I claim:  
     
         1 . In a system comprising: 
 a) a first portion of software for causing at least one-closed loop data processing system within a system to behave in a substantially autonomous manner; and,    b) a second portion of said software for controlling all other functions of said system or, said software and hardware including said at least one closed-loop data processing system for serving at least one transient user having an itinerary, with at least substantially all of said services that said at least one transient user would otherwise have available through a personal computer within the home of said at least one transient user or a business computer within the place of business of said at least one transient user at, at least one point on said itinerary other than said home or said place of business.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said hardware comprises any one or any combination of: 
 a) at least one closed-loop data processing system;    b) at least one central control device, for at least controlling at least one said closed-loop data processing system;    c) at least one database for nonvolatile storage of digital information;    d) at least one data transmission device; and,    e) at least one wide area network.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said software comprises algorithms for: 
 a) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to behave in a substantially autonomous manner;    b) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function as an audio presentation system, a video presentation system, and combinations thereof;    c) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function as a digital rights management system;    d) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function as a user psychographic profile management system;    e) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function as an e-commerce management system;    f) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function as a billing and tracking management system;    g) interfacing said at least one closed-loop data processing system with another said at least one said closed-loop data processing system;    h) interfacing said at least one central control device with said at least one closed loop data processing system;    i) interfacing said at least one central control device with said at least one database;    j) interfacing said at least one central control device with said at least one data transmission device; and,    k) interfacing said at least one data transmission device with said at least one wide area network.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one closed-loop data processing system further comprises: 
 a) at least one computer network server;    b) a software-based program that functions as a master control system;    c) at least one nonvolatile mass storage device;    d) at least one network router, network switch, network hub, and combinations thereof; and,    e) at least one computer workstation.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one computer workstation, of said at least one closed-loop data processing system, further comprises: 
 a) a display device;    b) a user input device;    c) a cursor pointing device, and;    d) an audio headset;    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one computer workstation, of said at least one closed-loop data processing system, further comprises a network interface connector.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one computer workstation, of said at least one closed-loop data processing system, further comprises a card reader device.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one closed-loop data processing system is mobile.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one closed-loop data processing system is stationary.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said digital information included redundant collections of multimedia information.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said redundant collections of multimedia information comprises: feature movies, television programs, cartoons, still images, animated sequences of still images, digital audio files, digital video files, interactive games and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said digital audio and data files, digital video data files comprise documentaries, instructional programs, correspondence courses, sporting events, news and financial reporting services, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said redundant collections of multimedia information comprise advertisements, market research items, product catalogs, promotional information describing the suitability and features of products and services, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said advertisements, market research items, product catalogs, promotional information describing the suitability and features of products and services, and combinations thereof, are not targeted according to the demographic and psychographic profiles of said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said advertisements, market research items, product catalogs, promotional information describing the suitability and features of products and services, and combinations thereof, are specifically targeted to appeal to said at least one transient user according to the demographic and psychographic profiles of said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein individual items of said redundant collections of multimedia information are grouped and offered to said at least one transient user in a manner that is not targeted according to the demographic or psychographic profiles of said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein individual items of said redundant collections of multimedia information are grouped and offered to said at least one transient user in a manner that is targeted to appeal to said at least one transient user according to the demographic or psychographic profiles of said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         18 . A method comprising: 
 serving at least one transient user having an itinerary, of a plurality of globally distributed groups of transient users, with at least substantially all of the services that said at least one transient user would otherwise have available through a personal computer within the home of said at least one transient user or a business computer within the place of business of said at least one transient user at, at least one point on said itinerary other than said home or said place of business.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one point is stationary.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one point is movable.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one point is situated in a space port, an airport, a train station, a bus station, a taxi depot, a limo depot, a marine depot, a hotel, a motel, or a resort.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one point is situated in a spacecraft, a space station, an aircraft, a train, a bus, an automobile, a taxi, a limousine, a marine craft or a submarine craft.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said services comprise: 
 a) storage and delivery of electronic information including audio entertainment, video entertainment, educational content, and combinations thereof;    b) running business software applications;    c) running interactive games;    d) transacting e-commerce marketing activities; and,    e) interacting with at least one wide area network.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said services comprise: accessing redundant collections of multimedia information including still images, animated sequences of still images, interactive games, digital audio files, digital video files, and combinations thereof, including feature movies, television programs, cartoons, documentaries, instructional programs, correspondence courses, sporting events, news and financial reporting services, advertisements, market research items, product catalogs, and promotional information describing the suitability and features of products and services, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said accessing of said services is not targeted to appeal to said at least one transient user according to the demographic or psychographic profile of said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said accessing of said services is targeted to appeal to said at least one transient user according to the demographic and psychographic profiles of said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said accessing of said services may be accomplished in such a manner that said at least one transient user can begin accessing a file containing an item of said digital information at, at least one point on said itinerary, halt said accessing of said file containing an item of said digital information, and resume accessing said file containing said item of said digital information from another at least one point on said itinerary.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said accessing of said redundant collections of multimedia information is done by means of unicasting at least one file containing an item of said digital information to an individual said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said accessing of said redundant collections of multimedia information is done by means of simultaneously multicasting at least one file containing an item of said digital information to a plurality of said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         30 . The method of claims  24 , wherein said at least one file containing an item of said digital information is a signal of a live event, presented to said at least one transient user in real time.  
     
     
         31 . The method of claims  24 , wherein said at least one file containing an item of said digital information is a signal of a recorded event presented to said at least one transient user upon a demand being generated by said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         32 . A system comprising: 
 software and hardware including at least one closed-loop data process system, for serving at least one transient user having an itinerary, of a plurality of globally distributed groups of transient users, with at least substantially all of the services that said at least one transient user would otherwise have available through a personal computer within the home of said at least one transient user or a business computer within the place of business of said at least one transient user at, at least one point on said itinerary other than said home or said place of business; 
 wherein said hardware comprises: 
 a) at least one closed-loop data processing system;  
 b) at least one central control device for at least controlling at least one said closed-loop data processing system;  
 c) at least one database for nonvolatile storage of digital information;  
 d) at least one data transmission device; and,  
 e) at least one wide area network; and,  
 
 wherein said software comprises, software for: 
 i) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to behave in a substantially autonomous manner;  
 ii) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function as a digital rights management system;  
 iii) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function as a user psychographic profile management system;  
 iv) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function as an e-commerce management system;  
 v) causing said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function as a billing and tracking system;  
 vi) interfacing said at least one closed-loop data processing system with another said at least one said closed-loop data processing system;  
 vii) interfacing said at least one central control device with said at least one closed loop data processing system;  
 viii) interfacing said at least one central control device with said at least one database;  
 ix) interfacing said at least one central control device with said at least one data transmission device; and,  
 x) interfacing said at least one data transmission device with said at least one wide area network.  
 
   
     
     
         32 . A software system comprising: 
 a) a first portion of software for enabling at least one-closed loop data processing system within a system to behave in a substantially autonomous manner; and,    b) a second portion of said software for controlling all other functions of said system including said at least one closed-loop data processing system for serving at least one transient user, having an itinerary, with at least substantially all of the services that said at least one transient user would otherwise have available through a personal computer within the home of said at least one transient user or a business computer within the place of business of said at least one transient user at, at least one point on said itinerary other than said home or said place of business.    
     
     
         33 . A system comprising: 
 a) software for behaving substantially in the manner of a superobject; and,    b) hardware which is caused by said software to behave in a substantially autonomous manner.    
     
     
         34 . A system for providing access through a wide area network to globally distributed redundant collections of multimedia information by at least one transient user of a plurality of globally distributed groups of transient users, comprising: 
 a) at least one closed-loop data processing system further comprising all hardware and software as are necessary for said at least one closed-loop data processing system to function in a substantially autonomous manner;    b) at least one central control device for synchronizing and controlling the operations of a plurality of said at least one closed-loop data processing system;    c) at least one database further comprising at least one nonvolatile storage device for archival storage of said redundant collections of multimedia information;    d) at least one transmission device for transmitting digital information by means of said wide area network;    e) at least one first link for linking said central control device to said at least one at least one database;    f) at least one second link for linking said central control device to said at least one transmission device;    g) at least one wireless link for linking said at least one closed-loop data processing system to another at least one closed-loop data processing system or to said central control device;    h) at least one cable or optical link for linking said at least one closed-loop data processing system to another at least one closed-loop data processing system and to said central control device;    i) software for linking said at least one closed-loop data processing system to another at least one closed-loop data processing system and to said central control device;    j) software for linking at least one closed-loop data processing system to said at least one data transmission device;    k) software for linking said at least one data transmission device to a wide area network;    
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said at least one closed-loop data processing system is mobile.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said at least one closed-loop data processing system is stationary.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said redundant collections of multimedia information is comprised of still images, animated sequences of still images, digital audio files, digital video files, user-generated data files, and user preference codes.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein said digital audio data files, digital video data files, and combinations thereof, include but are not limited to feature movies, television programs, cartoons, news and financial reporting, sporting events, educational programs, documentaries, instructional programs, as well as advertising messages and promotional information describing the suitability and features of products and services.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein said advertising messages and promotional information describing the suitability and features of products and services are not targeted according to the demographic and psychographic profiles of said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein said advertising messages and promotional information describing the suitability and features of products and services are specifically targeted to appeal to said at least one transient user according to the demographic and psychographic profile of said at least one transient user.  
     
     
         41 . A method comprising: 
 a) providing software for behaving substantially in the manner of a superobject; and,    b) causing hardware to behave in a substantially autonomous manner by said software.